Salisbury Mayor and Salisbury University President Attempt To End Semester On A Positive Note

Discussions about the April 21 incident that occurred in Salisbury's Cedar Crossing neighborhood, now dubbed the "War on the Shore party," have died down, but conversations between Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton and Salisbury University President Janet Dudley-Eshbach, are just getting started.

In an exchange of letters and memos last week, the Mayor and University President addressed the incident and offered solutions detailing how Salisbury University and the City can move past the negative attention.

In his April 26 letter to Dr. Dane Foust, Vice President of Student Affairs, Ireton put forth several suggestions for ways the University and the City of Salisbury can "change the existing culture."

SU administration must "Stand up" and denounce the belief among students that the sole criteria that determines the health of SU and the City's relationship is whether or not college parties are broken up by police.

The University was asked to publicize what rules will be sanctioned, endorsed and enforced when disruptive situations occur.

The University was asked to show public data on students' on and off-campus alcohol use; make SU policies on repercussions public, and make public the University's policies regarding students who are charged with offenses.

It was suggested that SU and local law enforcement develop a new policy for managing special events on and off-campus.

SU was asked to reevaluate the "Town Gown Committee" and the "Partners in Progress" initiative of the SU administration.

In response, Salisbury University President Janet Dudley-Eshbach sent a letter to the campus community on April 27. She started the letter by recapping the University's highs over the past academic year and offering a reminder of the University's efforts to build partnerships with local police, community associations and civic leadership.

Dudley-Eshbach said that the Cedar Crossing incident, in which several Salisbury University students were arrested, was"very disturbing disturbing to me."

The University President said that the students who were charged in the incident will be subject to the judicial process and the University's Code of Conduct applies to students who live on-and-off campus.

Several meetings have taken place since the events of April 21, including meetings between SU officials, local law authorities, City officials and SU students. Some students have been advised by SU officials to avoid large gatherings.

Dudley-Eshbach wrote that steps have been put into place to "assure a positive end to the academic year."

As the dust settles on the Cedar Crossing incident, Dudley-Eshbach said the on-going efforts to plan and provide a safe environment for students does not only rest upon the shoulders of University officials; as Dudley-Eshbach reinforced "It does take a village."